Oh You Beautiful Blog!

So I asked for a complete blog make-over and Abigail Kraft did a wonderful job! All I had to do is look through designs and then choose the one I liked. Abigail did the rest. Abigail was very easy to work with, and she even gave me a discount on my total price. Yippee! I feel like I won a prize.

Abigail's business is called 32nd Street Blog Boutique. I'd encourage anyone who is looking for a new blog look to go over to her site and see what she offers. You'll be so happy you did. The link for her site also on a button on the right of this blog page.

Thanks for listening~

The Agreement (another Graceism)

Grace:  Mom, I want to play the computer.

Mom: Have you read a book yet?

Grace goes off to find a book.  She comes back with a paperback  book that has chapters. 

Grace: If I read half of this book can I play my computer?

Mom: Ok, if you read half of the book you can play on the computer.  It’s an agreement then.  Shall we shake on it?

I put my hand out and Grace hesitates to take it in hers.  I look at her and wonder what the problem is.    As she grabs my hand she smiles and says: I sure am glad you didn’t spit in your hand first!

Worlds in Miniature

I enjoy looking at miniature towns and railroads.  Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg Germany has a great one.  You can view the online video at the link.

Wow, wish we lived close to this.  I’d sure love to visit.

We have been to Miniature World in Victoria BC.  On their website you can navigate across a map to see different areas inside the Miniature World building.

If you know of other miniature worlds I’d love to have you comment and supply the link for the attraction. 

Thanks for Listening~

Michelle

Book Give Away

Sue Hume has a book give away.....

Frankie the Walk and Roll Dog

Watch the video about Frankie

Good News Bad News

Well, I have some good news and some bad news.

Good news is the zucchini is doing really well….

Bad news is….. My cucumbers

….are really zucchinis!

I didn’t get a chance to plant seeds because Emily had been in the hospital. So, I bought these cucumber plants as small starts at Home Depot. I kept waiting for them to look like cucumbers…. I thought maybe they were just a different breed. Well they are, totally different!

Nothing discourages an amateur gardener like watching his family eat the entire garden at one meal.—Phillips' Treasury of Humorous Quotations

Summertime Antics

Look… loose tooth! Wonder if the roof expander will come out if the loose tooth comes out? We’ll see, I’m wiggling, and wiggling, and wiggling.

I know this isn’t what the cat scratching post is for, but look what I can do!

The butterfly net serves a dual purpose.

And it’s out!

52 Week Blessing Challenge – Week 15 Fans

It has been hot, really hot. Something like 90 outside today, and 88 in the kitchen where this thermometer is located.

I am SO thankful for fans. We have a few of them.

Kitchen

A couple of livingroom fans.

Bedroom

Hallway

And another bedroom fan.

I think are a couple more fans in the house but these are the ones that are working overtime today.

At least Emily is doing okay in this heat. However, like many children with disabilities, she does have heat intolerance. But we’ve been able to keep her temperature stable.

I feel so blessed that I’ve been able to keep her room cool and she’s fairly comfortable. Fans are truly a blessing.

Family History Project

I totally enjoy working on family history projects. This is a hobby that started some 30 years ago. With technology and more information than ever before at our fingertips it makes family history projects more interesting as well as exciting.

A family history project involves looking up the history of the family members through census, land, vital and military records (and any other records that may be available to me). I can trace many ancestors back to the 1770’s and America’s beginnings. Sometimes copies of original documents await me, and sometimes there is great difficulty in locating a document I know should be there.

Recently I worked on a family history project for a friend and here is what I found:

Copies of original documents

Census records

From which I created a family tree

and a family history.

What does it cost to do a family history project? Well, it really depends on how much family I find (how many pages I print out). I use a moderately priced genealogy program (costs less than many computer games). Next I spend time accessing subscription genealogy websites, as well as numerous other historical, city and county websites. Once I begin finding the family members I add historical documents that I’ve retrieved to their family history file in my genealogy program. Usually within a month I have some of the family members traced back to their immigration to the United States.

Documents I normally find are military and pension documents, census documents, at times immigration and travel documents. Sometimes there are news clippings, birth, death, and marriage documents, photographs of homes, graveyard headstones, and copies of city directories (precursor to the phone book).

When I have made copies of all the documents, which can be costly in printer ink at times, I like to place all of it together in a notebook, with all sheets in page protectors. I make a digital file of the family history (a CD) and place it into the notebook. A picture of the family tree is put on the front of the notebook and then I hand my gift over to the family.

I’ve now done about 8 or 9 of these projects and I really enjoy it. It’s sort of like scrapbooking! I’ve decided to put it out here to the rest of you. If you live in the United States and would like a notebook with your family history, you can contact me mdetwilr at yahoo.com. I’m not a licensed or certificated genealogist. However, experience has taught me how and where to find family members, and what information is available and important (along with their sources). If you contact me I’ll work on your family for a moderate fee (remember printer ink, paper, notebook sheet protectors, and subscription to the genealogy websites all cost).

Thanks for listening ~

Michelle

Memory Lane Continued – Train Up a Child Part 2

As the seizure subsided I was able to secure the baby into his car seat. I had no idea how his story would end, and at this point his life looked pretty bleak. But I know that God can do anything. So I bring home this little tiny guy and put him in our great big crib.

I remember taking a picture of him the first day, just laying there in that giant crib. He had a feeding tube taped to his face. He had lost his suck and swallow, and seizures came and went at unannounced times. His little cry was so weak I had to really listen if I was to hear him. And as he lay there I prayed for him.

Days came and went, and I rocked and sang to this little guy. I think the best part of being a mother, for me, is holding and rocking the child. I enjoy it so much. It’s a great bonding time.

Sometimes people wonder how I could have been a foster mom, bonded, falling madly in love at times with my little charges, and then let them go. God seems to have given me a gift of caring for and comforting those who can’t fight for themselves. That’s my job. A wonderful, sometimes awful, occasionally heart-wrenching and bitter sweet job, and yet the joys and comfort I receive from caring for a child with special needs far outweighs any discomfort I may feel.

As I care for him I pray for him. This little guy who can’t see a thing lays in my arms and begins to thrive. His vision has been totally destroyed by the bleeding in his brain. But he still has hands so I give him toys to feel. Sometimes I rub the soft toys on his arms and legs, singing to him and making rhymes. I know that if his vision isn’t going to be here he will need to know what things feel like.

By the end of the first month in our home this little guy has made great progress in his recovery. While he is still on seizure medicine, the seizures have stopped. His cries are also louder now, and are more normal sounding. The doctor checks his swollen brain and finds that there is no more fluid build-up and he won’t need a drain or shunt after all. The brain damage is still present, but he is alive and beginning to thrive.

I take him home and now its time for him to start receiving some physical therapy to assist in his recovery. No one knows how much, if any of his brain will begin to function properly. He is still being tube fed, but we’re working on trying to figure out the bottle again.

The people at the therapy center are great. They start with where he is at and work on building muscles and tolerance for activity. They also help me with his feeding, to see if we can get him to suck and swallow again. I’ve done this type of therapy before so I know how to follow-through with it at home. And one day, before we know it, he is drinking his bottle! Hurrah!

As he grows I’m able to introduce cereal and baby food, and he eats like a champ. Wow, no more seizures and no more tube feeding. And in the following months I continue to take him to therapy. We are seeing wonderful changes with his muscles. He is now able to hold his head up, and then sitting with some support! Who would have ever thought…. This child that died and was brought back to life is a miracle in the making.

His vision is still poor and he’s still challenged with blindness. But he learns to crawl, on his back. He looks like a little crab and we all laugh. But he gets to where he wants to go, and boy does he get into stuff. I learn that children with vision impairment often learn to crawl in a similar manner.

More eye doctor appointments and better news, his vision is improving. He can see through one of his eyes now! This child, who was shaken so hard his brain broke apart like a scrambled egg, is now learning to walk. Are there people out there who don’t believe in God? His mercy is so awesome. Just look at what HE’S done!

So while our little guy is learning to walk it’s time for him to return home. He’s been in voluntary placement due to his fragile condition. And as I work with his family, they learn to care for him and are ready to make a go of it at home. And while the parting can be difficult at times, I know that God has his hand on this little guy. And I’m ready, and he’s ready, and they are ready.

I think about him occasionally. And when I do I pray for him, knowing that God has something special planned for his life. As Christians we are challenged with training up a child in the way he should go. And my care for him and prayer for him was the beginning of that training. So now, this once tiny guy with barely the breath of life left in him is nearly a man. I can’t wait to see who he turns out to be….

Thanks for listening ~

Michelle

Walk Down Memory Lane – Train Up a Child

I've joined Lynette for another Wednesday's Walk

Train Up a Child--

There is a little guy I think about from time to time who had a traumatic brain injury due to “Shaken Baby Syndrome”.

For those of you who don’t know what that is, here is a link that describes Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Emily had been ill and was in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of our local hospital. While we were there a little baby was admitted in the room next to us and he was very very ill. As family gathered around this precious little guy the doctors told them that the news wasn’t good. His brain was swollen from bleeding, and he had irreparable brain damage. They really didn’t think he would survive.

When I walked by his cubicle in the PICU I could see tubes going in and out, and all sort of monitors beeping and alarming. The only movement was from the nurses who attended his lifeless little body.

In a day or two Emily’s health improved. She’d had pneumonia, and with the medication working round the clock her damaged lungs were getting better. While packing to leave the hospital I said a prayer for the lifeless little guy next door. Little did I know I would meet him again in just a couple of weeks.

Emily had been recovering nicely and I received a phone call from the foster care placement desk. They needed a home for a little guy who had severe brain damage. He was just barely off life support and the hospital could do nothing else for him. He was going to be placed in foster care while the authorities sorted out what had really happened to him.

I’ll never forget walking into the hospital room and seeing the same tiny little guy with a bandage on his head from where the built-up fluid had been drained. He was trying to cry but only a small kitten sound came through his tiny little lips.

The nurse went over his medical history with me. The most important thing to watch for would be the swelling. She was fairly certain that he would need more fluid drained from his head by next week, and a shunt to divert the fluid would probably need to be placed within the month.

I picked him up and held him and a seizure took control of his face and body. He twisted in my arms and I secured my grip. I knew what type of care he needed, and I sang to him softly.

To be continued…..

(Sorry, Emily has a doctor appt in just a bit. I’ll write some more for tomorrow)

52 Week Blessing Challenge – Week 14 A New Camera

I am so blessed to have a new camera! Its just a basic Kodak digital camera but it sure works great. My old camera had this dot that suddenly appeared.

I tried to clean the lens but it must be inside. Maybe something computerized is messed up inside. So, I needed a new camera.

The new camera takes great close-ups.

It takes great far-away shots also.

I was surprised at the detail.

This is Mt. Rainier, which is basically in our backyard.

Now I just need to practice using this camera. I enjoy photography, so getting time in to use the camera shouldn’t be difficult. It’s a great blessing to have the latest technology inside a camera. It makes learning to use so much easier since I can see the pictures right away. Probably makes my blog look a little nicer too.

Thanks for listening ~

Michelle

Narley Hair Day

Ever have one of those gnarly hair days?

Book Review – In Faithfulness, He Afflicted Me

In Faithfulness, He Afflicted Me (Paperback)

By Lynette Kraft

I just finished reading “In Faithfulness, He Afflicted Me” by Lynette Kraft. (Paperback, published by Tate Publishing, 2008) A book suited for parents, especially those who are grieving the loss of a child, but will also appeal to those caring for children and adults with special needs.

In her book Lynette reaches out to the reader, baring her emotions surrounding the death of her daughter Anna. While grief plays a part in the book, a wonderful picture of God’s love and care for his children also shines through the pages.

Reading through the book I found there were many scenes in which I could relate to the author. In one such chapter Lynette speaks of how she needed to stay home from church each week to care for Anna. While this is a difficult trial for families who care for medically fragile children, she relates to the reader how God supported her and her family at that time.

This journey through Lynette’s life reveals joy in sorrow. Her courage in the midst of pain brings us back to the source of our strength found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

This book is easy to read and well worth the $15.00 retail fee.

To learn more about this book, or purchase a copy, you can find it on Lynette’s blog.

Lynette, thanks for sharing such a powerful story with us!

Thanks for listening ~

Michelle

Food for Thought

I had to start my garden late due to the fact that Emily has been sick since April. Once I was able to get it in the ground I hoped and prayed it would grow.

Spinach, lettuce, peas, cucumber, tomato, jalapeno, cilantro, and watermelon (but that is pretty small still).

Look at those little guys!

The peas plants are small, but the pods are nearly ready…..

Lots and lots of lettuce. I’ve even got some lettuce growing in the same spot as the spinach (by accident), great salad stuff!

Wednesday’s Walk Down Memory Lane - Hold On

Hold On - Another Foster Care Story

© 1999

We first met BJ when he was barely two months old. He was so tiny! BJ was brought into life early with his twin sister. Although they were twins, BJ and Sister’s lives would be very different.

BJ was born with a very complicated and severe illness. This was an illness that was to cause a myriad of problems for him. When we were brought into BJ’s life, we were told that he was going to die because of the illness. We chose to be his foster family until it happened. “Just take him home and hold him,” the doctor said. “Death would be right around the corner.”

I brought BJ home with the expectation of spending just a few days with him, or maybe even a couple of weeks or so. Little did I know that we would not only receive a son but we would also become part of an entire family!

BJ’s grandparents were so gracious to us! They seemed to be very frightened about their little boy going into foster care, especially to someone that they didn’t know. And us, we had never allowed the family of a foster child to come into our home. But the fact that BJ had so little time, and his grandparents were so interested in his life, we decided to make a go of it.

In the first few days that we had BJ his body continually shut down. There was nothing we could do, even if we had wanted to. My husband, not understanding BJ’s illness completely, often complained that it wasn’t fair that BJ had to just lay there and try to breathe on his own. What he didn’t understand was BJ was dying. There wasn’t anything anyone could do.

We did what we could to make our little guy comfortable. We held him a lot. We sang to him, touched him. We kissed him and we loved him. For some, it is hard to love a child that you do not know. For BJ’s grandparents, and for us, BJ was special, and we loved him even then when we didn’t really know him.

In a short time BJ figured out that he wasn’t in the hospital, and he was with people who really cared about his comfort. That was when BJ began to live. His grandparents saw the change, and we saw the change. But for BJ, life was still to be taken one day at a time.

Taking care of BJ was not easy. I’ve read over some of my notes from those days. I almost can’t believe the amount of care that he required. And yet, at the time what I saw was a baby who needed comfort, and not a baby that was a whole lot of work. And we did comfort him, and he lived and grew. As the months went by, caring for BJ became second nature.

Knowing their heartache at seeing what was happening to their little grandson, I tried to be a comfort to the grandparents also. What if this were my child? What if this were my grandson? So I cared for BJ with that in mind.

As we continued to cuddle BJ he began to have some good days, and some very good days. I would call Grandma and Grandpa and tell them of exciting things their precious little boy was doing. We shared many hours on the phone together. We talked about their little boy who had stayed awake for 2 hours, or how he had just smiled a cute smile. There were times when I’d put BJ’s little face next to the phone so Grandma could just hear him breathing.

BJ worked his way into our hearts quickly. We loved and cherished each day with him. We knew that death could take him at any time, and yet we held on.

BJ’s grandparents took a risk and decided to become BJ’s full time caregivers, and they held on. And BJ loved his family, and where he was, and he held on, for six years he held on.

One of the things I learned from BJ was how to hold on. I’ve never seen a child hold so tight to life as BJ did. He taught me a few things about holding on. When life gets tough, hold on. When life hurts, hold on. When you can’t see the future, hold on. When you can’t see around you, hold on.

As BJ held on to us we held on to our faith. There are those who may let go of us, but when we stand behind our faith we are reassured that someone much stronger than we are will be there to hold us up.

People wonder how I do what I do. It’s because I know that I can hold on. I don’t have to take care of children like BJ, but Jesus would do it. And I learned from His example and now I do it. And I love it! And when I don’t have the strength, I hold on. And when I am stressed out, I hold on. And when my heart is broken, I hold on.

I know we’ll see BJ again in heaven. And I know when we do we’ll see his little hand in a big hand, holding on. And he’ll say to God, “This is my family. They taught me to hold on.”

My Sweet, Wonderful, Born in my Heart, Daughter

This morning has been, hummm…. lets see, somewhat less than peaceful. I heard the birds singing, the air was cool and clear…. and then it was time to get up. Grace came bounding into my room and threw herself against the bed (something kids with high sensory needs tend to do a lot of). She plopped her sack of marbles on the bed and began to show me her favorites. I should have known at that point the direction the morning would take.

Cereal was eaten straight out of the box (not something I’m in the habit of, but then again, it’s her box) and the smart-aleky attitude started. I nearly forgot (how could I do that??) to give Grace her medicine so I got up again to retrieve the needed dose.

Once her cereal was consumed Grace was instructed to start picking up her messes in the house. She trotted off to begin her chore while I went in to visit with Emily (who had a difficult night).

Emily was sleeping so I went back to Grace at the kitchen table where I found her…. painting the palm of her hand.

“Grace! Go wash your hands. You’re supposed to be cleaning up! (I’m a little exasperated at this point) Then you need to go to your room and get dressed.”

So upstairs she went, talking a mile a minute, to no one in particular. I went to my room which is right under hers. Suddenly a familiar sound beat came through the ceiling.

“Grace, stop dancing and get dressed!”

We finished our morning routine about the same time and met each other in the hallway. Back in the kitchen she goes to the table to show me her flower painting. Its cute and I tell her so.

She is calmer now, her medication is working. We talk about shells and marbles. I place my hand on her head and tell her how thankful I am that she is my daughter, and that she is just perfect, and how lucky we are to have her. She responds with, “I know, and you’re lucky I’m your daughter too, honey!”

I’m relishing our sincere and lovely moment. But my head is stuffy with a cold so I reach for the day-time cold medicine. It’s the liquid type and the little medicine cup isn’t on top. Oh that’s right, I washed it out the last time I used it. Should be on the counter here but I can’t find it.

“Grace, have you seen the medicine cup?”

She ambles back into the kitchen and then hands me a green-grey goopy cup. “Here it is mom….. I used it to paint with. And mom, you’re wonderful too.”

How could I be upset with her for using the medicine cup now? With that statement she’s worked her way a couple more inches into my heart now. And even though it she may be covered with blue-green paint, and chocolate around her mouth, and tries to sneak jelly bellies, and takes the crackers up to her room to eat, she’s still my wonderful, born in my heart, adorable wonderful daughter.

52 Week Blessing Challenge – Week 13 Good Neighbors

It is such a blessing to have good neighbors. All of our neighbors are quiet, respectful, ever helpful, and don’t try to burn the neighborhood down with fireworks.

This last Friday our good neighbor and friend E. went to heaven. Having her as a neighbor was something I will always cherish. The first day I met her I knew she was going to be a good neighbor…. I watched her pick all the weeds in my yard while she was walking up to the front door! What a good neighbor.

But more than picking weeds she was a comfort and a friend. We shared time shopping at the grocery store together, going to the post office together, even taking walks down the block together. She shared her family with us, and we shared our family with her.

And now in these days after her death we mourn along with her family, over the loss of one so dear. We’ll miss you, our dear neighbor, you will not be forgotten!

And the Winner is....

ANewKindOfPerfect will receive a brand new hand-tatted cross bookmark! Thanks for the great caption.

I couldn't handle another sloooow walk with Grandma. Now she has to wait for US at the corner!

If You See This Sign--

If you see this sign, you’ve probably already fallen out of bed….

So what do we do while waiting for a procedure to begin?

“Emily, maybe these can keep my ears warm….”

“Oh Daddy! You are so funny!”

“You’re not going to show anyone these pictures are you???”

I can’t tell you exactly what the Lithotripsy was like, but I understood Emily would be in pain when she came out because the sound waves basically beat her to break up the kidney stone. She was in pain when we brought her home in the evening and I gave her pain medication twice last night. This morning it is as if a heavy cloud was lifted! I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to see Emily relaxed and NOT in pain.

Emily did well during the Lithotripsy procedure and she was so happy that she didn’t have to get a new IV in (she has a Pic line in). The doctor had to physically crush and remove the stone in the kidney but the shock waves broke it up in the bladder.

During the procedure we took some time and walked in the hallways. There were glass cases filled with blown-glass items. My camera phone doesn’t do justice to these beautiful pieces.

This was my favorite.

These were sea anemones. Oh how I wished I could touch these. I have this tactile thing and I love to touch stuff. Probably good thing it was behind glass.

Well, the sun is up, kids are happy, and my garden needs watering. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Thanks for listening ~

Michelle

Living With ADHD

Bedtime routine ~

Mom: Grace, time for bed. Go brush your teeth and brush your hair.
Grace: Ok Mom..... (43 seconds later) Ok, I'm done.
Mom: No Grace, you're not done. GO brush your teeth.
Grace: Again? OK....
Several minutes later she reappears with some sort of thing in her hand that I've suddenly realized came from the bag in the laundry room which has things in it to be given to the thrift store.
Mom: Grace, go put that back in the bag of stuff to be given away.
Grace: But MOM, I want it!
Mom: No. You didn't want to pick it up so out it goes. Put it back.

Grace leaves the room and then comes back empty handed. She gives me a kiss and I pray with her. She goes and kisses her dad and heads up to her bedroom. Dad and I go back to what we were doing and soon we hear Grace again.

Grace: Mom, I need a drink.
Mom: Grace, you are in bed. You were supposed to get a drink before going up.
Grace: But I wasn't thirsty......
Mom: Sorry, stay in bed please.

Things are quiet for another minute or two.

Grace: Mom, I need to go to the bathroom.
Mom: Go Grace.

Soon the toilet flushes and all is quiet again for the next five minutes or so. And then suddenly Grace appears before me with something the size of a paper towel in her hand, but it's filthy. And very proudly she says, "Mom, I was washing the banister.... Look how dirty it was!"

Mom: Grace..... GET IN BED!

Half way to myself I'm asking, "Did she get her medicine tonight?????"
I know she did. And a good thing......

Post Pic Line & Name that Picture

I was downloading a funny picture from my cell phone that I took at the grocery store the other day (I’ll place it at the bottom of this post) and found a nice picture of Jeff and Emily.

This was from a day in March when we went to dinner at Emily’s favorite place (a buffet). She loves watching all the people in this restaurant.

The Pic line was put in yesterday. It was quite a long day but Emily did great. Jered watched Grace for me while nurse Trish and I took Emily to the infusion clinic.

We got to infusion clinic and Emily’s arm was measured (so we know if it is swelling once the line is in place). The nurse used an ultrasound to view possible insertion sites and found a good one inside her arm above the elbow.

We dressed in sterile blue with the yellow masks and Emily was draped. The nurse used a bit of anesthetic on Emily’s arm before she actually inserted the line. After a minute or two the line was placed and just needed taping up.

Before being used the Pic line needed to be x-rayed to make sure it was in the proper place. That meant a trip up one floor and then back down again.

Once placement was approved the nurse brought Emily’s first antibiotic infusion and set it up. Emily relaxed when she knew that it wasn’t going to hurt anymore. Then while the antibiotic was infusing the nurse taught us to hook up and care for the Pic line.

As I talked to the nurse about the Pic line I found out that so long as the line is intact and not infected Emily can keep it indefinitely. Wow, what a wonderful revelation! Its basically a central line, just not surgically placed. Emily will be able to get her antibiotic through it for now, but it can also be used any time she needs to be in the hospital or have tests or procedures (like the lithotripsy) where she needs an access line.

When the infusion was complete we were able to pack up and go home. We will need to go back next week to get more medication and have the dressing over the Pic line changed. At that time we’ll learn to do dressing changes.

Last night Emily was looking at her arm and frowning. I asked her if she was upset that she has that IV line in her arm. She continued to pout. I showed her the bag of supplies and talked to her about being able to give her medication to her at home now, she wouldn’t have to go back to the hospital to get her medicine. With that thought she stopped frowning and we were able to get on with the evening.

Today is our day off. I’ll take care of housework and spend some time with Grace. Tomorrow will be a busy day with the Lithotripsy.

Ok, now for the funny picture. Click on it to enlarge. Anyone have a good caption for this photo? I’ll turn this into a give-away and send a hand tatted cross to the person who gives me a suggestion that hits my funny spot. The winner will be announced on Sunday, 12 July 09.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers ~

Michelle

Wishes Hopes and Cures

Today Emily goes for a Pic-line. This is a longer lasting IV port. She’s been having a terrible time with the infection in her bladder and it seems that the only medication that will help is an IV med…. for 10 days. She doesn’t need to be in the hospital right now, and with a Pic-line she can have her IV antibiotic at home.

I remember when Emily was a little girl she would have hospital stays every month or two because she was sick. As she got older, and I learned to care for her better, she wasn’t in the hospital as much. Once nursing care started the only time she was in the hospital was for an occasional orthopedic surgery.

This year has been quite different. Emily has had one illness after another. It makes me think that her body is not functioning as well as it used to. I have become very aware of her mortality and have begun to prepare myself for the ultimate 911 call.

In years past I have prayed and begged the Lord for a complete healing. I KNOW He can do it. However it seems that He has other plans. I remember asking the Lord over and over again to at least allow Emily to talk. And there was silence. Seemed like the more I prayed the less I heard.

But one day, while driving to a physical therapy appointment, I heard someone behind me saying “Wherewegoin”?

What???? Did I just hear that? Yowzers! She talked! That was truly an exciting day. And it happened like that, just a few times, words would come out of her mouth.

Another day, in a big strong voice like she had been talking all her life, Emily told her nurse to MOVE (she was standing in front of the TV). That sure made us laugh.

Emily does have her own way of saying Mom and Dad (emphasis on the DAD because she calls him quite a bit). But for most of the time Emily doesn’t make a lot of sound or noise. She can cry but doesn’t usually cry unless things are really bad. Lately she has been crying. The pain has been bad.

Whether it is the kidney stone, bladder infection, or the newly found cyst on her ovary, we don’t know. Please remember Emily in your prayers. We’re hoping the IV she is getting today will cure some of her ills. The Lithotripsy to get rid of the kidney stone is on Friday. I’m so very grateful for all your kind thoughts and emails of support. Through the trials we have found a family of love in our community and through this blog. Never underestimate how important your comment may be.

Thanks for listening ~

Michelle